Industrial production in Czechia rises 0.7% year-on-year in first quarter of 2025

Industrial production in the Czech Republic increased by 0.7% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to official data. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, production rose by 1.5%. The number of working days was unchanged from the first quarter of 2024, providing a consistent comparison.

The data show that industrial production in early 2025 remained largely stable relative to the previous year, edging just 0.8% above the level recorded in 2021. Growth was primarily supported by the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector, which benefitted from a lower comparative base in 2024. In contrast, mining and quarrying activities saw a decline, while manufacturing output stagnated, recording a slight decrease of 0.2% year-on-year.

The modest increase in overall industrial output was driven by several manufacturing activities. Positive contributions came from the repair and installation of machinery and equipment, which grew by 6.3%; the manufacture of machinery and equipment, up 2.2%; and the manufacture of food products, which rose by 2.9%. However, declines in key sectors weighed on the broader result. The manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers fell by 2.1%; production of other transport equipment dropped by 11.6%; manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products declined by 3.6%; and chemical production contracted by 2.5%.

Sales from industrial activities, measured at current prices, rose by 0.2% year-on-year in the first quarter. Export sales increased by 2.4%, while domestic sales – including indirect exports – fell by 2.3%. Growth in sales was led by the food industry, which saw a 4.9% increase; machinery and equipment, up 4.3%; and repair and installation of machinery, which expanded by 10.9%. Meanwhile, the largest declines in sales were recorded in the manufacture of other transport equipment, basic metals, and motor vehicles.

New orders in surveyed industrial sectors decreased by 0.5% year-on-year at current prices. Non-domestic orders fell by 0.3%, while domestic orders declined by 0.7%. The downturn in orders was mainly attributed to the manufacture of motor vehicles, which dropped by 4.7%; chemical products, down 3.8%; and paper and paper products, which fell by 3.5%. On the positive side, new orders grew for machinery and equipment by 9.9%; fabricated metal products by 4.3%; computer, electronic and optical products by 2.6%; and other transport equipment by 6.5%.

Employment in the industrial sector also contracted. The average registered number of employees in industry during the first quarter was 2.0% lower compared to the same period last year.

The figures suggest a broadly stable industrial sector supported by energy supply and select manufacturing industries, but held back by weak automotive and related production.

Source: CSO